Matt Smith
25-year-old Smith came through Arsenal’s academy and gained senior experience on loan with Swindon Town, Charlton Athletic and Doncaster Rovers before spending the last three seasons with Wigan Athletic.
When Smith signed, it felt like he was here maybe to help out. He wants a stab at the Championship, believes he is good enough, and his agent got him through the door. Maybe not the most physical player, but he earned a chance.
Sometimes, there is nothing you can do, but if his chances were 5% when he came in, they must have gone up. I really liked him: he showed great tenacity, a bit of composure on the ball, and he looked more like a Lincoln City player than a trialist against Doncaster.
If there is a deal to be had, it’s here. If I were on Football Manager, I’d be looking for a six-month deal maybe, a chance to prove fitness and provide squad depth. I think, on the balance of two friendlies which we know don’t mean a lot, he showed he’d be worth it if the budget allowed.